Surfacing element and process of manufacturing the same



Dec. 18, 1928.

H. c. FLoHR ETAL n SURFACING ELEMENT AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. e, 192s INVENTOI? A TTOHNE Y pending u on the purpose Patented Dec; 18, `1928.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. FLOHR, OF YORK, AND LEON ORNSTEIN, OF BROOKLYN,` NEW YORK.

SURFAOING ELEMENT AND PROCESS MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

vApplication `filed yFebruary 6, 1926. Serial No. 86,475.

This invention relates to `surfacing elements and process of manufacturing the vsame and the. object is to produce a surfacing element which will have a glass-like surface, which will be easy to apply, is unbreakable, that is, will not chip or crack, will noty curl or warp, is not affected by temperature or humidity, and is sanitary, lfor use wherever it is desired to have a surface of this character, for instance, for the covering of walls, taking the place of the tiles which are now used, forl covering tables, and in many other places where a porcelain-like `surface is desired. We vdo not limit the invention to any particular use as its uses are manifold, and it may be produced in any desired size, that is, in large sheets where, for instance, it is used as a surfacing element for Walls, and in smaller sheets for the covering of tables or other articles where only a small'surface is required. The invention relates not only to the surfacing element itself, but to the process of producing the same, which is particularly set forth hereinafter. f

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a sheet embodyin our inven-v tion, and Figure 2, a section on't e line 1-1 of Figure 1.

.The surfacing element which we have produced comprises a base of what is commercially known as asbestos'board, that is, an

element com osed of asbestos and Portland cement. AThls board may be of any desired thickness andof such dimensions as may be conveniently handled and also of course, de-

or which the surfacing e ement is to be used. For instance, for the covering of walls we found it desirable to take asbestos boardV of about'fg in thickness, and about 4 Sift. surface measurement. For the surfacing of walls this is a ve desirable size as it may be quickly and easily applied.

To this base, which is'marke'd with the numeral 1 in the drawing, we apply4 first a solution 2 which constitutes a penetrating and adhesive agent. This solution'is-composed of nitro-cellulose, gum and oil. Many4 different gums may be-used, as, for instance, dammar, Congo, shellac, and others. We

' use a vegetable oil of which there are many,

for instance, lnseed, rapeseed Vand others. This penetrating and adhesive agent or solution is made up substantiallyof ual yparts of nitrocellulose-and m, and oi equal to approximately one-hal of the amount of nivknown nitro-cellulose solvent.

facture from an amorphous substance, such 7 as silex, kaolin, calcium carbonate, gypsum, magnesium carbonate, or magnesium compound, which we incorporate with a bodied Vegetable oil, lsuch as fboiledlinseed'oil or other blown vegetable oils, 'and nitro-cellu- 7 lose solutions in approximately the following proportions: 40% amorphous substance, 20% oil,l and 40% nitro-cellulose solution. The nitro-cellulose is dissolved lin any well I This filling solutlon 1s applied tothe side of the asbestos board base which has been previously treated wlth the penetrating and adhesive solution or agent, the application being by machine or by atomizing or vaporizing. We then permitthis filling solution to dry, which will take about half anhour. s We then apply the finishing or glass-like surface 4 which comprises a pigment of white or any other desired color suspended or incorporated in a nitro-cellulose` solution, gum and oil, similar to the penetrating and adhesive solution which we first described. One or more coats of-this .surfacing solution are applied to. obtain the desired effect.

The completed surfacing element presents the ap earance' of' porcelain. That is, it has a hardpglass-like surface which, as we have stated,is" not affected by temperature or humidity and will not chip or crack; It is fireproof andsanitary. When used in bath rooms or any otherl place where tile is ordinarily used',`1t is very lmuch more sanitary as, being in large sheets, the cement used betweenthe tiles is avoided. Being made of the asbestos iboard base, it may be made thin and thereby reduce its weight to a minimum without curling or warping, 4and being of aminimum weight large sheets may be readily handled. Also by being of such light weight, it no glass-like surface.`

surface. It maybe readily applied to the. 'Wall or to any other surface by cementing.

We do not limit our invention to any particular size or, any particular form, as it 1s` obvious that-it may be made oany desired lng. a mixture of nitro-cellulose, gum andoil;

a filling solution composed of an amorphousr substance, oil ad nitro-cellulose; and a coat'- ing of nitro-cellulose, gum and voil to form al 2. A surfacing element comprising an asbestos boa-rd basev to which has been applied la penetrating and adhesive solution corn-v lposed of nitro-cellulose, gum and a vegetable oil; a filling solutioncomposed of an amor-` phous substance, a bodied vegetable o'il,'and nitLo-cellulose; and a finishing solution corn` posed of a pigment incorporated with nitrof cellulose, gum and oil.

3. The process of producing a surfacing element'. consisting in first applying to one surface of an asbestos board base, a penetrating and adhesive solution, composed of nitrocellulose, gum and oil, permitting the samel to dry, then applying to the same surface of the asbestos board base, a filling solution comprising anamorplious substance, oil and nitro-cellulose, permitting the same to dry, and finally applying a finishing solution comprising a solution of nitro-cellulose, gum and oil to produceV a hard glass-like finish.

4. The process of manufacturing a surfacing element consisting in applying to the surface of an asbestos boa-rd base, a penetrating and adhesive-solution consisting of nitro-cellulose, gum and avegetable oil, ermitting the same to dry, and then app ying a filling solution composed of an amorphous substance'incorporated with a bodied vegetable oil and 'nitro-cellulose, permittingth'e samegto dry, then applying a finishing solution lcomprising a pigment incorporated withv nitro-cellulose, gum and a vegetable oil.

v HENRY C. FLOHR.

LEON ORNSTEIN. 

